Gauri rushed to open the door and when she saw Omkara standing there waiting with a basket she immediately closed the door softly behind her as not wake Bhavya who was still soundly asleep.

"What are you doing here?"

"Care basket."

Omkara gently set the blue basket that was filled with tea, biscuits, aromatic incenses, and therapeutic scented candles. But what caught her eyes were two tickets protruding out.

"What are these?"

"Spa. I heard women love these kind of things. You can go anytime and will get the first class treatment. I figured after a long night you and Bhavya might want to use them."

"But....so...expensive...."

Gauri wanted to just push the basket back into his hands but she was startled when his warm fingers brushed against her cheeks.

"Don't just worry about taking care of others. If you can't take care of yourself then let me do it."

He could tell by the bags under her eyes that she must still be very tired. She was the type of person who would put the ones she loves first.

Gauri did not know what to say. She has always been taking care of others even if it meant over exerting herself. Her mother had always needed constant care but in the end she still lost her. How could she let anything happen to Bhavya? She was the only one left in her life until...him. With a feeling of embarrassment Gauri could only look down at the basket. The feeling of being taken care of was addictive and she was too scared to want more. Her heart trembled and her mind started to remind her "don't love too deeply....you can't get out....you will be buried alive...."

When Omkara notice her arms trembling he quickly grabbed the basket and set it down in order to pull her into his arms.

"Don't be scared. It's okay. Slowly trust me. I will slowly show you that you can trust me as long as you give me a chance."

Lifting up her head to meet his caring and serious gaze Gauri's hands grasped his waist tightly. She felt that as long as she can hold him maybe she could change. Maybe she could forget the past and learn to believe in him. However the image of her father walking out on her and her mother flashed in her mind. Gauri tried to shake the image away but her heart started to hurt once again.

"I...will try but you must tell me if it becomes too hard. I will understand."

Hearing her soft voice trembling Omkara pinched her chin and pressed his warm lips against hers. He could taste the mint in her mouth as he deepen the kiss to let her know he was angry. How could he give up so easily? Never.

"It will only be hard if you stop me Gauri."

They held each other silently for another minute before Gauri's palms pushed them apart.

"Thank you but you should go before Bhavya wakes up."

Omkara's eyes narrowed in displeasure for a second unbeknownst to Gauri. His greed and selfishness was wanting to emerge and take his woman away but that would definitely scare her.

"Okay. Call me if you need anything."

"I will."

He didn't want to get back in his car but his phone was now ringing off the hook.

"Must be important. You better hurry to work."

But when Omkara saw Rudra's name flashing on his phone his eyes darkened. "Too many people disrupting their 2 person world right now. Annoying."

"Okay. You take care of yourself."

When his car finally disappeared Gauri took the basket inside the house.

"AH! You scared me! What are you doing standing right there?"

Bhavya who was standing only inches away stared at the basket. "Who was that?"

"Omkara."

Bhavya's eyes dimmed as she heard someone else's name but Gauri quickly tried to remedy the situation.

"Rudra told him to deliver this."

Still feeling sad Bhavya only replied with an "Oh."

"He didn't come in person because I told him to stay away. To give you space. Are you disappointed?"

Gauri's voice was a tad pitch higher because she was never really good at lying. However, for her friend she will try but her squeaky voice was giving her away.

"Gauri...don't lie. It's too embarrassing to see you try. The basket is from Omkara right?"

"Yeah..."

"Why are you trying to help Rudra? Do you think I should forgive him?"

"I wasn't trying to help him. I just didn't want to see you sad. I shouldn't have lied. Sorry. Plus I was afraid...."

"Afraid to show me that you are happy?" Bhavya quickly finished Gauri's sentence. "Don't be afraid to be happy Gauri. If I ever find out you are sacrificing your happiness for mine I will never forgive you. Do you understand?"

Bhavya was truly her best friend. Even her fears were hard to hide.

"Alright. I took the day off to spend time with you. We have two tickets to the spa. Want to go?"

Bhavya dashed for the tickets and her jaw dropped. "OH MY GOD! I have always wanted to go here but you have to be a member but the fee was just too expensive!"

Seeing her smile brightly Gauri felt more at ease as she continued to finish cooking breakfast.

"Well, we can go after breakfast."

Jumping happily Bhavya trotted to her seat at the dining table. "Who needs Rudra when you have Omkara!"

A tender smile appeared on Gauri's face as she set breakfast on the table.

*****************************

When Omkara arrived at the company his mood was obvious to everyone. The cold chill emanating from his body made his employees shiver. Those dark black eyes were squinting at a man they have never seen before.

"Om! What took you so long?" Rudra yelled out as he waited by the exclusive elevator.

Omkara's brows narrowed as he walked over towards Rudra. "In the company you address me as Sir or Boss."

For a moment Rudra forgot that he was now inside the company. How could he forget what a tyrant Omkara is when it comes to work. This was one of the main reasons he didn't want to enter this place in the first place!

"Sorry Boss."

It was only when they entered the elevator did Rudra dared to relax.

"Did you visit Aunt Jhanvi yet?"

"No I haven't. I will after I have convinced myself that this is happening."

Omkara turned and coldly reminded Rudra that there was no turning back once he has decided to enter the company.

"If you have second thoughts leave now. You know that once you step foot in my office it will be official. You will not be able to leave. That has always been our family rule."

"I know...."

When the elevator stopped Rudra slowly walked towards Omkara's office and with a heavy sigh he stepped inside and closed the door.

"Good morning Boss. Good morning Mr. Oberoi."

Khanna who was very exhausted after his trip to Bareilly was patiently waiting for Omkara to arrive.

"Do you have what I need?"

"Yes. I have set the folder on your desk."

Omkara glanced at the yellow folder that held the secret to Gauri's past. He couldn't wait to read it but the big light bulb of a cousin still needed him to take care of.

"Go visit Aunt Jhanvi and when you are finish I will have you follow Khanna to learn how to be my assistant."

"I swear you are in cahoots with my mother! I thought you would only make me temporarily enter the company to see Bhavya Friday. How can you bring up our family rule and trap me here?!"

Omkara glared coldly at Rudra who was clearly resenting him. "What does my company look like? You can come when you want and leave when you want? You know the family rule. We give you the freedom to choose what you want to do in your life but once you step foot in here there is no turning back. So the question you should ask yourself is if Bhavya is worth it."

"She is worth it!"

"Then stop complaining. Your days of running around is over. There was no point in hiding who you are. If you want to make it work with Bhavya then you need to be Rudra Oberoi. Unless you want everything to be based on a lie."

Rudra knew his cousin was right. In the end he was an Oberoi. It was pointless to hide his identity in order to find true love; he was so stupid.

"I know. I will go see my mother now."

"Okay."

When Rudra left the office Omkara continued to stare at the folder. His fingers slowly opened the file to begin looking inside. His dark eyes grew colder and colder by the minute.

"Gauri........"

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